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Consumer inflation edged higher to April to 2.8% year-on-year from 2.7% in March, driven mainly by the housing and utilities as well as the alcoholic beverages and tobacco categories, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.

April consumer inflation edges higher to 2.8% year-on-year

April’s slight uptick suggests that the Reserve Bank will keep the benchmark repo rate at 7.5% next week

  • Aarti Bhana
2 min read
Consumer inflation edged higher to April to 2.8% year-on-year from 2.7% in March, driven mainly by the housing and utilities as well as the alcoholic beverages and tobacco categories, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.

Inflation eases to 2.7% year-on-year in March

The South African Reserve Bank is unlikely to cut interest rates next month, because of inflationary pressures that lie ahead

  • Aarti Bhana
1 min read
United States President, Donald Trump. (Allison Robbert, Getty Images via AFP)

Trump’s tariffs fuel economic pain for US consumers, businesses and farmers

For an agricultural sector that depends on international markets, short-term protectionist measures offer little benefit and erode long-term competitiveness

  • Eyaaz
4 min read
Annual consumer inflation was unchanged at 3.2% in February at 3.2%, with increases registered in housing and utilities, food and alcoholic beverages and restaurants and accommodation offset by decreases in the services sector, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday. (Guillem Sartorio/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Consumer inflation unchanged at 3.2% in February

With inflationary pressures heightened, the Reserve Bank might take a cautionary approach regarding its interest rate decision on Thursday

  • Aarti Bhana
2 min read
Consumer inflation edged higher to April to 2.8% year-on-year from 2.7% in March, driven mainly by the housing and utilities as well as the alcoholic beverages and tobacco categories, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.

Consumer inflation ticks up for third straight month as Stats SA adjusts basket

The South African Reserve Bank has warned of an upside risk to the inflation outlook

  • Eyaaz
1 min read
On a month-on-month basis

Inflation cools to 3.8% in September

This is the lowest reading for inflation in South Africa since April 2021

  • Aarti Bhana
2 min read
Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago

Reserve Bank cuts repo rate to 8%

This comes as inflation eased to 4.4% in August, below the midpoint of the Reserve Bank’s 3-6% target band

  • Aarti Bhana
4 min read
South Africa’s consumer food price inflation slowed to 3.9% in July 2024, from 4.1% in the previous month. (Dwayne Senior/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Consumer food price inflation at lowest level since January 2020

While we could see food price inflation remaining relatively softer in the coming months, there are some possible upside price risks on bread and cereals and meat.

3 min read
Economists widely expect the South African Reserve Bank’s monetary policy committee to once again hold the interest rate at 8.25% when it concludes its meeting on Thursday.

Reserve Bank widely expected to hold interest rates this week

Consumer inflation remains sticky above the 4.5% midpoint of the central bank’s target range

  • Eyaaz
4 min read
Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago

Reserve Bank holds repo rate

Delivering the unanimous decision, central bank governor Lesetja Kganyago cited a still uncertain global outlook This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

  • Eyaaz
1 min read
South African Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago. Photo: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Explainer: How the Reserve Bank decides on interest rates

Movements in headline inflation are a key indicator, but decisions are also influenced by central banks around the world, especially the US Federal Reserve

  • Des Erasmus
3 min read
The Reserve Bank has maintained the repo — at which it lends to commercial banks — steady at 8.25% for five consecutive meetings, since hiking it by 50 basis points in May 2023.

Consumer inflation eases in April, but interest rate cut still unlikely this month

The central bank has maintained the key repo rate at 8.25% since hiking it by 50 basis points in May 2023 This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

  • Eyaaz
1 min read
Small food businesses and inflation

Inflation edges up in February, driven by food and transport, among other costs

The consumer price index rose 5.6% year-on-year in February and was at 1.0% month-on-month

  • Des Erasmus
2 min read